Just Call us Nomads

If you follow me on twitter, facebook or really are in any communication with me, you are aware that Wesley and I are in the middle of the search for an apartment. The internship program Wesley is involved with is ending, which also means that we have to move out of our lovely abode (that we haven’t been paying for….!!!). So needless to say, yall will not see our bright and shining faces flying down as much, if at all, this fall. L Paying rent is going to come as a harsh reality!!

Okay back to being nomads. This is the fifth time is our married life that we have moved. Yes fifth. And no, I did not stutter. We have moved five times, and this time will be the fourth in DC. We are basically expert movers especially since we don’t have any belongings up here besides dishes, glasses, and clothes. This also makes it quite difficult since we are about to move into an empty apartment and we don’t have things like… ummm… a bed… or a couch. This should get interesting. Craigslist, anyone? Apartment shopping in DC is basically like applying for a job. Wesley and I spend every hour after work online looking for places to live. When we first started looking we would just send emails like this:

Hello,

My husband and I have to move out of our apartment 22 August. Can you send me some more pics of your places? We want to come see the apartment at a good time for you.

Lauren

Well, this approach didn’t go so well. I would get minimal responses or none at all. I decided I needed to finesse it up… make myself look appealing. So my emails starting looking a little something like this:

Hi!

I have come across your wonderful apartment on Craigslist and would be interested in seeing it at a time that is good for you. My husband and I are in our mid 20s, both have great jobs with governments and do not have any pets. We are both non-smokers and are very tidy. This place would be super convenient for my husband as he works on the Senate side. I thank you so much for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

Warm Regards,

Lauren Clay

Luckily, this email has gotten us a lot more responses and we have been to see a few places. Now, I am what some people might like to call “high maintenance”, but in terms of apartment shopping I am pretty low key. I don’t care if it is small, but I don’t want a dindgy bathroom, etc. Well, this weekend we found one that I really liked. A basement, but nice lighting… a little on the small side, but still a one bedroom…. And totally redone on the inside. Wonderful! BUT. Now it is like freakin applying for a job. We had to fill out an application and now wait. Wait and see if we are picked out of all the applications to actually get the apartment. There is no, yea yea I will take it! It is… I love it! Now fill out an application and wait in complete agony all the while hoping you aren’t completely homeless in three weeks with nothing but your clothes on your back rolling a tiny suitcase down East Capitol Street trying to find somewhere to call home. A little dramatic, but you know what I mean. So needless to say, we would love your thoughts and prayers that we actually get this apartment! Otherwise we are off on the apartment hunt again. Do you think it helps that I wrote a smiley face on my application next to where I signed my name? Just saying……

CLARIFICATION

The entire context of the last post erroneously conflated an idea that an author of this online media source has a "baby bug". The incident of two consecutive entries having the same character concept was purely coincidental. Clearly, the author of the last post has wrongly misunderstood my message and intends on placing possible false hopes or pretences in the mind of our readers by their comments. We accept that their comments are wrong and do not support the disclaimer. We regret the error and any inconvenience we have placed upon you.

DISCLAIMER

To all our blog followers,

As a disclaimer, all of these "child" posts that Wesley has been posting is in no way, shape or form any indication that we have the baby bug. We will not be having any children in the near future. Don't get your hopes up.

Sincerely,

Management

PS Happy Friday - bottoms up!

EARTHQUAKE!!!

So apparently there was an earthquake in D.C. this morning around 5:00. I was in the beginning stages of getting up for the gym, but did not feel the shake. I guess I can now say I have lived through an earthquake. Happy Friday.

Speaking of earthquakes, this kid/beauty queen will give you a shake down like no other. It is well worth the 6:52 minutes. I posted several weeks ago a clip of her, but this is more of her insane world that is beauty pageants and highly comical. She has enough one liners for Dave's Top Ten. I can't tell who needs to be slapped, her or her mother. I will give it to the girl, she knows what she wants.

[video from YouTube]

Kids Say (or Write) the Darndest Things

Recently, I was reading the Huffington Post, when I was directed to an article about the strange/funny things children write when given the freedom to do as they wish. Below are some examples the childrens' inner thoughts. Why can't adults be this honest?

[pictures from Huffington Post]

One Liners That Really Hit You in the Gut

"Don't wait. The time will never be just right." - Napoleon Hill

"Nothing is an obstacle unless you say it is." - Wally Amos

"Remember happiness doesn't depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think." - Dale Carnegie

"Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional." - Roger Crawford

Busy Bees

Okay, so no excuses but I know this post is way overdue (yea yea... Wesley called it that I would start out my post this way). We have had a very busy June and July! Between weddings, bachelorette parties and weekend getaways, we are finally back home and relaxing for a bit. It has been a little hot here in DC (ummm 105 degrees...hellooo!!), so between work during the week we have spent a lot of time indoors. We have also been doing a lot of apartment shopping since we are having to move out of our current place at the end of August. Does anyone know somewhere cheap we can move in the city?! Here is a recap and some pics from the last couple of weekends......

Bald Head Island - Memorial Day
So I jetted off with a few of my friends from DC (leaving all the boys behind!) to a GREAT relaxing weekend at my friend Betsy's house on Bald Head Island in North Carolina. You literally had to take a ferry over to the island where there were no cars and you got to drive around in golf carts. It was so nice being out of the District and hanging out and cooking dinners with good friends. :)

Peeling around in the golf carts

Cheers to a great weekend

Walking around looking at Old Baldy

The next weekend I was off again to Rosemary Beach for Erin's bachelorette party. We got there Thursday night and laid on the beach for the whole weekend. Friday night we stayed in and had little appetizers and the lingerie shower. Saturday night we got a limo and drove around the area and had champagne. We had dinner at Red Bar .... yom!!! ... and went out at Bud & Alley's.

Limo ride with champagne

Pretty girls!!

The next weekend, Wesley and I decided we were itching for a trip to New York so we hopped in the car and drove the four hours (well it really took us six... ahh traffic!) up to NYC. We still can't get over that we can pop up to New York any time we want because we were so close. It was the perfect weekend to go since it was Elizabeth's birthday. We went to an AMAZING dinner at Mas (farmhouse) in Greenwich Village (http://www.masfarmhouse.com/). If you are in the NYC area and are looking for somewhere incredible to eat, I would definitely suggest this place.

At Mas (farmhouse) - Happy Birthday Liz!

At the Soho Grand Hotel with Heather

Dannceee parrttyy for the birthday girl

Wesley and I were then home for a couple of weekends (trying to avoid the heat!), but we did try to get out a bit. After attempting to lay out in the public park by our house.... yes just in the grass... with cars flying by.... yikes...., we decided to venture to one of the public pools in the area. It definitely wasn't a country club......... but at least it was somewhere to go! We stayed in town for the 4th of July, which is always fun in the District. We went to a cookout at my friend Katie's house and I attempted to make a few festive treats. Yea yea... slice and bake I know... I tried, okay!

This past weekend we made the trip down to New Orleans for Erin and Lee's wedding weekend. We went down on Thursday morning so that we were able to have one day to spend exploring around NOLA. We got there and met Candace, Charles and Megan and went straight to Acme Oyster. We then walked around Jackson square and went to the rooftop pool which was amazing. Thursday night there was a get together at Lee's friend's house. Friday was the Bridesmaid's Luncheon at Court of Two Sisters with the Rehearsal Dinner that night at Crescent City Brewhouse. It was all so much fun and great seeing so many good friends! Satuday was the wedding with the reception at Rosy's Tap Hall - such an incredible time! My parents also came down, so it was great to see them too. Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Smith!

After lunch at Acme Oyster - daiquiri timmee

Bridesmaids Luncheon

Wesley and I at the Rehearsal Dinner

Helping the bride get ready!

Fun times at the reception

So needless to say, Wesley and I are a little tired out! We have some down time here in DC for a while, so hopefully we will jump back on the blogging bandwagon. Is anyone else in shock that it is already the middle of July?! Happy summer everyone!!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY live from the Nation's Capitol!

Wesley and I have had a full morning so far. We woke up and went for a jog stopping at Barracks Row to see the local kids parade and then wandering down (well actually forcing Wesley with puppy dog eyes to keep walking with me in the 100 degree weather...) down to Constitution Ave to watch the National Parade. We are heading to a cookout tonight (so I should be cooking...) but I have been religiously watching HGTV all afternoon... does someone have home buying on the brain?! I am making pasta salad, a fruit pizza and Capitol cookies! I will have pics to show tomorrow. I am hoping (no promises....) to upload a lot of pics from the last month. We have been traveling like crazy and have lots to share. I hope everyone has a safe and exciting 4th of July!!